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Steve Durkac

Hospice Chaplain

 
 
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Author Archives: Steve Durkac

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Sealing Work of the Holy Spirit

Steve Durkac Posted on May 6, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

We find the concept of the Seal of God in the book of Ephesians and in Revelation. There is a definite connection between the two books on the Seal of God. Let’s beginning by looking at Ephesians 4:30 where Paul says “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged bible prophecy, end time, Ephesians 4:30, Holy Spirit, last days, Mark of Beast, Revelation 9:4, Seal of God

The Seal of God?

Steve Durkac Posted on May 6, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

We find the concept of the Seal of God in the book of Ephesians and in Revelation. There is a definite connection between the two books on the Seal of God. Let’s beginning by looking at Ephesians 4:30 where Paul says “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged bible prophecy, Holy Spirit, Mark of Beast, Seal of God

At The Last Day?

Steve Durkac Posted on April 15, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

Here is something that makes me pause when considering the return of Jesus in a pre-tribulation rapture. It’s the use of the phrase “at the last day” as found in the Gospel of John. The reason it gives me pause, is because the Bible specifically mentions that there is only two resurrections, one for the saved and one for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Acts 24:15, bible prophecy, Daniel 12:2, Dispensationalism vs Historicism, end time, first resurrection, John 5:28-29, last days, pre-trib, resurrection, Revelation 20:5, second resurrection

Death in the Millennium?

Steve Durkac Posted on April 15, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

There is a belief that during the 1000 years people will be born and people will die. Where does this idea of death being part of the saints experience of eternal life, post-rapture, and post-tribulation come from? The answer is Isaiah 65:20 which says “No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged 1000 years, bible prophecy, Dispensationalism vs Historicism, end time, Isaiah 65:20, last days, Millennium, pre-trib, rapture, Revelation 21:1-4, Thru Revelation

Walking in the World, but not as the World

Steve Durkac Posted on April 14, 2019 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

Today at CrossHope Chapel we opened to Ephesians 4:17-32 and in case you missed it, here are some notes… The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor “walk” as a way to express how we live our lives. Walk is a descriptive word picture for the practice of our day to day living. It is used by the Apostle Paul and the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged Ephesians, Ephesians 4, Ephesians 4:17-32;, walk, worldliness

Symbols in the Bible

Steve Durkac Posted on April 7, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

(This is not original with me, nor do I even know who compiled it, but it was something I got from another minister who got it from another minister who used it for a Bible Prophecy Seminar handout.)   Luke 8:10 And He said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged bible prophecy, Bible symbols, Prophecy Study, Thru Revelation

Numbers in the Bible

Steve Durkac Posted on April 7, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

(This is not original with me, nor do I even know who compiled it, but it was something I got from another minister who got it from another minister who used it for a Bible Prophecy Seminar handout.)   Many of the numbers in the Bible have deeper prophetic or spiritual significance. Both in the Old and New Testaments, numbers … Continue reading →

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Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged Bible interpretation, bible prophecy, numbers, Thru Revelation

Sabbath = Messiah

Steve Durkac Posted on April 3, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

I would like to suggest to my Seventh-day Adventist friends to substitute the word “Messiah” for the word “Sabbath,” every time you read it in the Bible or in the writings of Ellen White. I once had a New Testament professor who in teaching through the book of Galatians, suggested that when we read the word “law” we could add the … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged 4th Commandment, Ellen White, Former Adventist, Law, Sabbath, SDA, Seventh-day Adventist

Why Clemson Won

Steve Durkac Posted on January 11, 2019 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

Well, let me say the title of this post should more accurately be “Why Clemson Won – Possibly, Theologically Thinking.” My thought is that Coach Dabo Swinney of the championship Clemson college football team did such a powerful job at giving God glory that it struck me as possibly part of the reason Clemson may have won. During the nationally … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged Dabo Swinney, football, Glory to God, Nick Saban

Top 5 Posts in 2018

Steve Durkac Posted on December 28, 2018 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

Here are the top 5 searched and viewed posts in 2018 from our www.crosshopechapel.org website. That means that people searched the internet for a specific topic or question and our website post came up on that search so with our #1 post there were close to 1000 people and the other posts were all around 100 people. I would never … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations

Top 10 Classic, Rock, Country, Reggae, Ska Songs In My Christmas Playlist

Steve Durkac Posted on December 6, 2018 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

If you are looking to change up your usual Christmas songs, here are 10 of my favorites that are part of my 50+ songs Spotify Christmas playlist… Father Christmas by The Kinks Christmas by The Who Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley Merry Christmas From The Family by Robert Earl Keen Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged Christmas, Christmas Music, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Video, YouTube

My Top 25 Spotify Songs in 2018

Steve Durkac Posted on December 6, 2018 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

While the majority of my radio listening time is talk radio I periodically listen to my Spotify playlists, especially when I am down by the beach because of reception issues. This isn’t all I have in my playlists but the app says this it is the top 25 most listened to songs from my personal Spotify, counting down…   25. … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged beach music, music, Video, YouTube

Why Not to Start a House Church

Steve Durkac Posted on December 5, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

Don’t start a house church because you want to be in charge. That’s not a good reason. Worse yet, you can not sustain a house church if you just want to be the boss. My personal opinion is that it is perhaps the one really bad reason to want to start a house church. I happen to think that starting … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged CrossHope Chapel, House Church, Organic Church, pastoral ministry, Simple Church, start a house church

Dear Step-Siblings

Steve Durkac Posted on December 2, 2018 by Steve DurkacApril 23, 2024

We share the same mom, at birth anyway, but her influence was just as intentional upon my life as with yours. You experienced her influence through the awesome privilege of knowing her, loving her, holding her, building a bond with her, while I have only had gratitude for her. That gratitude is all I carried with me for 54 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged Adoption, adult adoptee, Family, step-family

Sport Fans vs Church Fans

Steve Durkac Posted on November 26, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

There was once a time while I was serving as a hospital chaplain that my family and I attended a new and growing Baptist church. We loved the fellowship, the church, the vision for growth, but there was one thing that use to drive me nuts…the pastor would often say “Why do you get so excited about your favorite sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged church, church attendance, Karl Vaters

We Are Church

Steve Durkac Posted on November 24, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

Francis Chan has the left the mega church world and is now focused on ministry through his We Are Church house church network. I happen to like Francis Chan and I have a greater respect for his voice when it comes to advocating for simpler and smaller church groups and communities. Here is a video clip that I like and … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged Francis Chan, House Church, We Are Church

Clean and Unclean Meats?

Steve Durkac Posted on November 20, 2018 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

Here are some things to consider on unclean meats, as it came up in our discussion today. One awesome thing about our fellowship is our desire to provide an environment that points to the grace of Christ, His holy word, and allow each of us to grow in convictions according to the work of the Holy Spirit without the pressure of any … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:4-5, clean meats, foods, Former Adventist, Hebrews 11:1, Israelites, Leviticus 11, Mark 7:14, Mark 7:14-23, Romans 14:14, Romans 14:17, Romans 14:2-3, Seventh-day Adventist, Unclean

Vote Biblically

Steve Durkac Posted on October 9, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

In the elections here in America, I hope you will give your attention to voting biblically. When you are deciding your vote in terms of voting biblically, you will relieve yourself of the stress and defense of standing by a political party. Noah Webster said this best when in 1823 he admonished students “In selecting men for office, let principle … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged 10 Commandments, America, Democrat, elections, Noah Webster, Republican, vote, vote biblically, voting

More on Today’s Church

Steve Durkac Posted on September 4, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

A few weeks ago I posted on 2 Corinthians & God’s Word and got into a bit of a rant on my observations on the waywardness of today’s church with a trend away from preaching from the Bible. You can read about that at https://www.crosshopechapel.org/2-corinthians-gods-word/. Sunday I shared about a comment in our pastors’ Facebook Group from a new minister who … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged American, Bible, church, John 12:32

Simple Church Communities

Steve Durkac Posted on August 21, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

In a previous post I gave a definition for what I think when I use the term “Organic Pastor” and you can find that post here. In this post I would like to help you understand just what I mean when I use the term “Simple Church Communities.”  My definition of the term “Simple Church Communities” is any gathering of people for … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged church planting, House Church, Matthew 18:20, Organic Church, Simple Church, Small Group

Pull or Push Leadership?

Steve Durkac Posted on August 15, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

I can remember one of my Old Testament professors discussing the difference between leaders who pull and leaders who push. He explained the difference by sharing with the class something he witnessed on a trip in the Middle East while he was traveling from a teaching assignment in Israel to a new teaching assignment in Ethiopia. He explained that when … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged leadership, Pastor, pastoral leadership, shepherd

A Definite Aim

Steve Durkac Posted on August 14, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

David Jones was a British teenager who wanted to make a career out of his love for music. He was playing and performing his music before he ever graduated from school. He became a leader of several bands and finally recorded his first album. The album received positive reviews by England’s harshest music critics, yet it sold little. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged goal, leadership, Pastor, pastoral leadership, purpose

10 Qualities of Leadership

Steve Durkac Posted on August 14, 2018 by Steve DurkacSeptember 16, 2025

There is a difference between leadership and management. You may be a workplace manager, but not necessarily a workforce leader. You may even have supervisory responsibility of employees, but that doesn’t automatically make you a leader. Leaders differ with managers in that they posses and practice qualities that allow them to succeed in motivating people. They don’t just manage projects; … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | Tagged business, leadership, market ministry

1 Corinthians 14

Steve Durkac Posted on July 19, 2018 by Steve DurkacFebruary 4, 2024

Last Sunday, July 15, 2018, we opened to 1 Corinthians 14 and discussed two hot potato topics: speaking in tongues and women teaching in church. Thanks Paul. I could have gone the rest of my life in ministry not having to discuss these topics in church from the pulpit, but we are committed to a verse-by-verse approach to teaching God’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Faith | Tagged 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Timothy 2:12, Male Headship, Speaking in Tongues, spiritual gifts, Tongues, women

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